WILPF United States Section

Updated: 3/13/08 

On February 7, Advancing Human Rights committee member Tzili Mor addressed the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva regarding U.S. violations of the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict:

"The Crisis in Gaza" - a WILPF Declaration

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section (WILPF US), having considered reports of an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza including Israel's continuing siege, deprivation, bombardment, and military assault upon the citizens of Gaza resulting in civilian deaths and countless injuries during the past months and that indiscriminate random rocket attacks have been launched from Gaza into Israel resulting in a number of injuries to Israeli citizens;

Taking note of statements by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that "Gaza's border closures are without precedent," leaving Palestinians "effectively incarcerated...without fuel and spare parts, public health conditions are declining steeply as water and sanitation services struggle to function. The electricity supply is sporadic,"

WILPF is calling on women across the U.S. to convene peace tables, or grassroots strategy sessions, in a strategic effort to discuss and develop a harmonized agenda to prevent war. We have created a toolkit to aid you in your discussions. These toolkits can be used as guides to help articulate and prioritize a framework for local call for actions. We hope that each women's peace table will be able to adapt the toolkit to the needs of their participants. We are currently publicizing this effort through the websites and newsletters of other national women’s organizations and at myriad women's meetings across the country and virtually.

The data and discussions from each peace table will be woven into a broader, national agenda for policy reform and best practices that could move our nation toward a future of sustainable peace with respect for the freedom and human rights of all. For centuries women have been working for peace, it's now time to hear their voices at the table.

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The Women’s Peace Table was created in the spirit U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. Expanding on the Platform for Action that was established in Beijing in 1995, our goal is to weave the priorities of diverse women's organizations and communities across the U.S. into a single harmonized agenda for action: a prioritized list of policy changes and good practices that will prevent the U.S. from initiating and fueling future armed conflicts. Throughout the history of WILPF, the women in our organization have worked to create an environment of political, economic, social and psychological freedom for all members of the human community, so that true peace can be enjoyed by all. It is important that WILPF's efforts to be aligned with those of other women's organizations and communities so that U.S. women can develop a proactive peace movement that is resilient and unstoppable.